California drought: Homeowners fined for not watering lawn

GLENDORA, Calif. (KABC) -- It's a dilemma: You get fined if you water your lawn, and you get fined if you don't.

Local homeowners associations were penalizing residents who had brown lawns. Now Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that would stop that. But the bill doesn't stop local agencies from doing it.

Michael and Laura Korte of Glendora decided to cut back after the governor asked people to conserve water. Then they were told their lawn was a potential public nuisance problem. They got a letter from the city saying their landscaping needs to be healthy and green.

"It feels like we don't know exactly what to do now," said Laura Korte. "If we try to water dry lawn in July we are going to have a problem. It's not going to meet this goal of a very green lawn."

The city of Glendora has changed the landscaping rules to encourage water conservation, and says it is working with the residents.

"I have talked to them several times giving them some suggestions and offering them some help with rebates and things that they can do to have an attractive-looking home and not have to spend water on it," said Mayor Judy Nelson.

Assemblywoman Cheryl Brown of San Bernardino has worked on a bill that would prohibit cities and local agencies from imposing fines.

"Laws in Sacramento need to make common sense," said Brown. "And to me, it was just a common sense bill. If you have an ordinance that says you must have green grass when the governor calls a drought, then you shouldn't be able to fine people."

Another bill moving through the legislature would allow homeowners to install drought resistant plants and landscaping without getting fined by homeowners associations.